Spencer Beckwith

Thurs. 3/21 10a:  Four New Mexico cellists, Sally Guenther, Dana Winograd, James Holland and Joel Becktell, come together on March 30 and 31 at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos for a program of music for multiple cellos, an encore of a popular concert presented two years ago by the Taos Chamber Music Group. Spencer Beckwith speaks with Sally Guenther about the program.

Wed. 3/20 10a:  Music Director David Felberg leads the all-volunteer Albuquerque Philharmonic in music of Stravinsky, Ravel, Roussel and Francaix, March 24 at Sue Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho and March 25 at Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center.  Adding a visual element to the concerts is artwork created by local students inspired by the music.  Spencer Beckwith is joined by the APO's Vice President, oboist John Arango.

Fri. 3/15 10a:  The period instrument ensemble, the Albuquerque Baroque Players, present "Le Parnasse," a program of music by French Baroque composers, played at A=392, a whole step below modern pitch.  The concerts are March 16 at Albuquerque's Fellowship Christian Reformed Church and March 17 at the Historic Old San Ysidro Church in Corrales.  Spencer Beckwith speaks with the Players' special guest for the concerts, baroque violinst Stephen Redfield.

Thurs. 3/14 10a:  Local, national and international theater artists perform this spring as part of "EVENTUA," a performing arts festival taking place through early May in the Muñoz Waxman Gallery at Santa Fe's Center for Contemporary Arts.  The festival is a collaboration between the CCA and Santa Fe's Theater Grottesco. Spencer Beckwith speaks with the founder and Artistic Director of Theater Grottesco, John Flax.

Wed. 3/13 10a:  Young performers from throughout Northern New Mexico perform for the community, and for prize money, in the Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association's annual fundraiser, the "Spotlight on Youth Concert," March 15 in the Scottish Rite Temple.  Spencer Beckwith is joined by SFYSA's Artistic Director, cellist Dana Winograd.

Fri. 3/8 10a: Closing out its 40th anniversary season, from March 17-24 at Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center, Opera Southwest presents Puccini's "Madame Butterfly." Spencer Beckwith speaks with the Artistic Director of Opera Southwest, conductor Anthony Barrese.

Thurs. 3/7 10a: During the month of March, in locations around Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the organizers of the 8th annual Women & Creativity celebration collaborate with a variety of local and regional partners to present all sorts of events celebrating women’s creativity and entrepreneurship. Spencer Beckwith speaks with one of those organizers, the Director of Education at Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center, Shelle Sanchez.

Wed. 3/6 10a: Since 1965, the volunteers of the Guilds of the Santa Fe Opera have been working to support the Opera's Education and Community programs. Spencer Beckwith is joined by Guild member Trixi Bubemyre for a look at "You Are What You Wear: Costume and Character in Opera," the Guild's community program taking place on March 9 in the Opera's Stieren Hall.

Thurs. 2/28 10a: Spencer Beckwith speaks with the President of the Albuquerque Flute Association, Valerie Potter, Principal Flutist with the New Mexico Philharmonic. The Association's 2013 Flute Fiesta includes a full day of classes, demonstrations, presentations and a competition on March 2 at Eldorado High School, as well as a recital by guest artist, Houston-based flutist and educator, Jennifer Keeney, on March 1 at Robertson and Sons Violin Shop.

Wed. 2/27 10a: An original documentary theater work about a Northern New Mexico community living with and without water is on stage from March 1-10 in the Greer Garson Theatre at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Spencer Beckwith is joined by Victor Talmadge, who leads the University's documentary theater class.
 

Fri. 2/22 10a: Four consecutive Friday evenings in Lent, from February 22 through March 22, the Cathedral of St. John in Albuquerque presents a series of concerts of meditative music for the season by a variety of composers and performers. Spencer Beckwith speaks with the Assistant Organist at the Cathedral, baritone Edmund Connolly, who will be performing in the second concert in the series, on March 1, with pianist Maxine Thevenot. 

Thurs. 2/21 10a: The students in the University of New Mexico's Opera Theatre perform in "A Night with Puccini," February 22-24 at UNM's Keller Hall in Albuquerque. The performance includes two works, the one-act opera, "Suor Angelica," and the first work Puccini wrote for the stage, the opera "Le Villi." The performance is the first of "Le Villi" in Albuquerque. Spencer Beckwith speaks with the co-director of UNM's Opera Theatre, Sam Shepperson.
 

Wed. 2/20 10a: On February 24 at Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center, the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus continues its 2nd season with a varied program of music by, among others, Anton Bruckner, Johannes Brahms, Vincent Persichetti, William Byrd and New Mexico's Bradley Ellingboe. Spencer Beckwith is joined by the Music Director of the Chorus, Roger Melone.
 

Fri. 2/15 10a:  NewArt New Mexico and the North Fourth Art Center present JOURNEYS, a two-weekend celebration of international contemporary dance, featuring post-performance discussions with the artists. Spencer Beckwith speaks with French choreographer Philippe Blanchard whose duet, "How About You?," opens the Festival on February 15 and 16 at Albuquerque's N4th Theater.

Thurs. 2/14 10a:  Mid-school and high-school musicians from across New Mexico come together for the Albuquerque Jazz Festival, a two-day event that's part music adjudication and part jazz performance.  The Festival concludes on February 16 with a public concert in the auditorium at Eldorado High School:  the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra performing with saxophonist Dick Oatts from New York City.  Spencer Beckwith speaks with Maud Beenhower, the Executive Director of the producer of the concert, the New Mexico Jazz Workshop.

Wed. 2/13 10a:  From Valentine's Day through February 17, in its intimate Black Box Performance Space, Albuquerque's Musical Theatre Southwest brings together a musical trio and over a dozen local performers for "Romance, a Valentine's Cabaret."  Spencer Beckwith speaks with one of the two emcees for the cabaret, long-time Musical Theatre Southwest performer, Gene Corbin.

Fri. 2/8 10a:  On February 16, high school-aged pianists and string players from around New Mexico will gather in Keller Hall at UNM in Albuquerque to compete for cash prizes and performance opportunities in the Music Guild of New Mexico's 20th annual Young Artists' Concerto Competition.  The public is invited to attend.  Spencer Beckwith speaks with the Music Guild volunteer who started the Competition, and for whom it is now named, Albuquerque resident Jackie McGehee.

Thurs. 2/7 10a:  On February 8, the 2nd annual New Mexico Black History Month Festival presents an original show, "Roots Revival," at Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque.  The original cabaret performance uses song, dance, and spoken word to chronicle the journey of African Americans from West Africa to the present-day United States.  Spencer Beckwith speaks with the Founder and Director of the Festival, Albuquerque vocalist Cathryn McGill.

Wed. 2/6 10a:  For its spring season, the Albuquerque Civic Chorus will bring together 85 volunteer singers from the community for a pair of concerts in May and tour to England in June.  The Chorus is now welcoming new members to its Tuesday night rehearsals at Albuquerque's First Christian Church.  Spencer Beckwith speaks with the Music Director of the Chorus, Dr. Gary Wayne Pyland.

Fri. 2/1 10a:  Albuquerque's innovative, alternative classical music series, Sunday Chatter, celebrates its 5th anniversary on February 3 at The Kosmos.  The Sunday morning concerts were conceived under the title "Church of Beethoven" in 2008 by cellist Felix Wurman.  Spencer Beckwith speaks with violinist David Felberg, who took over as co-Artistic Director of the series when Felix passed away in 2009.

Thurs. 1/31 10a:  The musical group, PANdemonium, teams up with the Odara Dance Ensemble to celebrate the Carnaval traditions of Cuba, Trinidad, Brazil and New Orleans, February 8 and 9 at Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center.  Spencer Beckwith gets a preview of the celebration from the leader of PANdemonium, percussionist, vocalist and composer Frank Leto.

Wed. 1/30 10a:  An opera for young people and their families, "A Way Home," by composer Ethan Frederick Greene, will be on the stage of the Journal Theater at Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center on February 1.  The production is presented by Opera Southwest.  Spencer Beckwith speaks with the young mezzo-soprano from Houston who's singing the central role in "A Way Home," Cecilia Duarte.

Fri. 1/25 10a:  Albuquerque's Indian Pueblo Cultural Center recently named a new Executive Director, Travis Suazo, of Acoma, Laguna and Taos Pueblo heritage.  Mr. Suazo joins Spencer Beckwith at KUNM to talk about the IPCC's performing arts events, including its popular weekend series featuring Native American dance groups.

Thurs. 1/24 10a:  On January 27 at Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center, the New Mexico Philharmonic presents the world premiere of "From a Distant Mesa," a work for tenor and orchestra set to texts on Southwestern themes by writers Rudolfo Anaya, V.B. Price and Adam Cornford.   Spencer Beckwith speaks with the composer of "From a Distant Mesa," Albuquerque's Daniel Steven Crafts.

Wed. 1/23 10a:  The young musicians of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program present a variety of musical events in the coming weeks, including their annual "Playathon" on January 26 at the Cottonwood Mall and a Youth Symphony Orchestra concert on February 3 at Popejoy Hall.  Spencer Beckwith gets a preview of the events from the Music Director of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program, conductor Gabriel Gordon.

Fri. 1/18 10a:  Serenata of Santa Fe presents Kathleen McIntosh in a solo concert on January 20 in the ballroom of the Scottish Rite Center.  The internationally-known harpsichordist, a resident of Santa Fe, will perform music by J.S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti and other 18th Century composers.  Kathleen McIntosh joins Spencer Beckwith at KUNM to talk about the program.

Thurs. 1/17 10a:  Artists from Denmark, Mexico, Italy, Australia, Switzerland, Poland, and New Mexico are performing on a variety of Albuquerque stages from January 15 through February 3, as part of the Tricklock Company's annual Revolutions Theatre Festival.  Spencer Beckwith talks with the co-Artistic Director of the Festival, Tricklock's Juli Hendren.

Wed. 1/16 10a:  Since 1966, the Guild Cinema in Nob Hill has been offering Albuquerque audiences an eclectic array of new, classic, independent and foreign films.  Spencer Beckwith speaks with the co-owner of the Guild, Keif Henley, about the history of the theater and some upcoming screenings.

Fri. 1/11 10a:  The New Mexico Ballet Company and the New Mexico Philharmonic team up to present a fully-staged version of Shakespeare's tragic romance at Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center on January 12 and 13.  Spencer Beckwith talks about Prokofiev's score for "Romeo and Juliet" with the conductor for the performances, Grant Cooper.

Thurs. 1/10 10a:  On January 20 at the Cathedral of St. John in Albuquerque, Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico is joined by cellist David Schepps and Rabbi Barbara Finn for "Holocaust Cantata: Songs from the Camps."  Donald McCullough's 1998 work uses music and texts the composer found in the archives of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.  Spencer Beckwith talks with the Artistic Director of Polyphony, Dr. Maxine Thevenot.